Sign In
Free Newsletter
FantAZy Island: Secession-laced bills barging through the Legislature may fail, but they express state’s legacy of rage
Secession bills and resolutions are marching through the Legislature, even though their most ardent advocates concede most have little chance of actually being implemented.
Haunted by history: Ash’s past as defender spurs his thus-far futile quest for sentencing reform
When Cecil Ash ran for the House seat in 2008, his pitch to the voters was that he would repair the state’s wreck of a budget. But a turning point came in his early days on the House Judiciary Committee.
Abortion bill sponsor unfazed by doubts cast on his evidence
Steve Montenegro's assertion that Arizona needed to outlaw abortions performed to prevent the births of female and minority babies earned House passage, and now HB2443 goes to the Senate. But his success came on the basis of spotty evidence.
Study interprets stats to mean some gender-selection takes place
In April 2008, the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America” published results of a study in which the authors conclude that some sex-selection abortions are taking place in the U.S.
Pension pickle: Public safety employees hate both bills
As talk of pension reform heats up at the Capitol, organizations representing public safety employees such as police officers and firefighters may have to choose among three unappealing options: a bill they hate, a bill they hate even more and lawsuit they might lose.
AHCCCS kill bill designed to trigger a conversation
Although a bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee after midnight the morning of Feb. 23 would repeal Arizona's Medicaid system, its real purpose appears to be to start a discussion on how the state can save money on health care.
Shifting fed funds to Legislature — a perennial loser — has a chance
An annual legislative power play that always seems like a fool’s errand finally may have gotten the break it has been waiting for.
Commerce Authority: State pays, but has little say
When the Arizona Department of Commerce becomes the Arizona Commerce Authority, the quasi-private agency will be free of much of the oversight and regulations that accompany being a fully public part of state government.
Brewer names Darwin as next ADEQ director
The nationwide search for a new Arizona Department of Environmental Quality director led Gov. Jan Brewer straight back to Phoenix.
Four IRC members meet, delay choosing chairman
The four newly sworn-in members of the Independent Redistricting Commission met for the first time on Feb. 24, then stalled in choosing a chairman from a slate of five independents.
House committee OKs handing Pinal County $5 million for border security
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed a bill to increase the state’s border security, as representatives continue shaking their fists at Washington, D.C.
Yarbrough pension reform plan clears committee
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed Sen. Steve Yarbrough’s plan for overhauling pension systems for public safety employees, despite the near-unanimous opposition of the groups that would be affected.
